3 “new” mash-ups
First two were done earlier this year but all old components anyway. In each case I guess they represent a yearning for the minimal production ethos of so much recent R&B to shift to a broader, busier and richer sonic scope - or to take these formulaic yet relatively charismatic performances and map them onto deeper, darker, “dancier” territories. Because they touch on something SO good. In chronological order:
Cassie (’Me And U’ acapella) vs Etienne De Crecy (’Relax’)
I tried numerous acapellas over this sublime De Crecy track from his 2000 LP ‘Tempovision’ but Cassie’s works best. The connection between the two tracks is a deep melancholy but the difference is that Cassie’s smoulders into the night while Etienne’s blinds like sunshine. IMO he should definitely work with American contemporary soul singers.
Sasse (’Loosing Touch’) vs Ciara ft. Chamillionaire (’Get Up’ acapella)
Extract from recently completed part 11 of Ultramix 06. The wonderfully macabre mood of Sasse’s Italo revival track combined with Ciara’s slinky smooth vocal works better than you might expect.
Shakedown (’At Night’ acapella) vs 808 State (’Empire’)
Made the other day. Prior to the recent re-mastered issue of the great ‘Ex:El’ LP I’d been thinking about how well ‘Empire’, at least in essence, fits as a backing track for a late 80s Janet Jackson-esque pop song. Listen and you’ll get the idea - the ‘At Night’ vocal seemed to fit better than anything else I could find
